World Cup 2022: Morocco Face Spain As Last Africans Standing

Morocco will be carrying the hopes of Africa on their shoulder when they face free-scoring Spain on Tuesday evening in their FIFA World Cup 2022 round of 16 clash.

They are the only African country left in Qatar after Champions Senegal were sent packing by England on Sunday.

The odds are against them going against a youthful Spanish side who is out to prove they are contenders for the trophy.

There are four (4) sides to this clash:

1. Morocco's Winning Streak:

Morocco qualified for the last 16 as the group leaders and they are facing second-best Spain after Luis Enrique's side were almost sent home in a watering last-day match in Group E.

The clash saw 2014 champions Germany eliminated.

That being said, Spain are favourite, especially with Barcelona duo Pedri and Gavi bossing the midfield for the La Furia Roja.

Morocco on the other hand have shown they can compete, coming out as group leaders consisting of Croatia, Belgium and Canada.

They were the least African country some expected to qualify.

They have only been to this stage once before when they lost 1-0 to West Germany in 1986. On that occasion, they topped a pool that included England, Portugal and Poland! None of the current squads were born yet.

Tips:

The Morocco national team has four players who currently play in La Liga -- Yassine Bounou, Youssef En-Neysri, Jawad El Yamiq and former La Masia graduate Abde Ezzalzouli who would know Pedri and Gavi personally.

Aside from Abde, En-Neysri and Bounou would understand playing against most of the Spanish team players very well.

The two sides also met four years ago at the World Cup in Russia, where the group stage clash finished 2-2, so they will not be totally unfamiliar with each other.

The clash holds the promise of excitement but it remains to be seen who will come out victorious.